Assigning tasks in a distributed system based on ranking

Abstract

A method and apparatus are provided for selecting a remote system suitable to process one or more tasks. The method includes transmitting a utility to a plurality of remote systems; receiving ranking values generated by the execution of the utility by each of the plurality of remote systems; and selecting a remote system from the plurality of remote systems to process the task based on the received ranking values.

1 . A method, comprising: 
 transmitting a copy of a utility to a plurality of remote systems;    receiving ranking values generated by the execution of the utility by each of the plurality of remote systems; and    selecting a remote system from the plurality of remote systems to process the task based on the received ranking values.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein selecting the remote machine comprises selecting the remote system having the highest ranking value among the plurality of remote systems.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the utility comprises at least one of an executable routine and runnable script, further comprising causing the selected remote system to process the task and receiving results from the processing of the task.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the task comprises at least one of a compilation task, video processing task, audio processing task, image processing task, encryption task, and decryption task, and wherein transmitting the copy of the utility comprises transmitting a copy of a first utility to at least one of the plurality of remote systems and a copy of a second, different utility to at least another one of the plurality of remote systems.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the ranking values have an associated lifetime, further comprising deleting the ranking values after the expiration of the lifetime.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 transmitting a second utility to the plurality of remote systems;    receiving the second ranking values generated by the execution of the utility by each of the plurality of remote systems; and    selecting the remote system from the plurality of remote systems to process the task based on the received second ranking values.    
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein transmitting the utility comprises: 
 receiving, at the controller system, the utility from a client system;    transmitting the utility from the controller system to the plurality of remote systems; and    providing the results from the processing of the task to the client system.    
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein receiving the utility from the client system comprises receiving an authenticating value associated with the utility, where the authenticating value can be utilized to determine if received utility is different from a subsequently received utility.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein selecting the remote system comprises: 
 receiving, at the controller system, the task from the client system;    receiving, at the controller system, an identifier associated with the task; and    selecting the remote system to process the task based on the received task.    
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising receiving information associated with at least one configuration aspect of the remote systems, and wherein selecting the remote system comprises selecting the remote system to process the task based on the received information associated with the configuration aspect of the remote systems.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the information associated with the configuration aspect of the remote systems comprises information relating to at least one of a processing speed, memory size, network speed, and load level of the remote systems.  
     
     
         12 . An article comprising one or more machine-readable storage media containing instructions that when executed enable a processor to: 
 transmit a utility to a plurality of remote systems;    receive ranking values generated by the execution of the utility by the plurality of remote systems; and    determine one or more remote systems suitable to process a task based on the received ranking values.    
     
     
         13 . The article of  claim 12 , wherein the instructions when executed enable the processor to assign the task to at least one of the determined remote systems, to allow the task to be processed by the at least one determined remote systems, and to receive results from the processing of the task.  
     
     
         14 . The article of  claim 12 , wherein the instructions when executed enable the processor to select the remote system having the highest ranking value among the plurality of remote systems.  
     
     
         15 . The article of  claim 12 , wherein the instructions when executed enable the processor to cause the selected remote system to process the task and receiving results from the processing of the task.  
     
     
         16 . The article of  claim 12 , wherein the instructions when executed enable the processor to: 
 receive, at a controller system, the utility from a client system;    transmit the utility from the controller system to the plurality of remote systems; and    provide the results from the processing of the task to the client system.    
     
     
         17 . The article of  claim 16 , wherein the instructions when executed enable the processor to: 
 receive, at the controller system, the task from the client system;    receive, at the controller system, an identifier associated with the task; and    select the remote system to process the task based on the received task.    
     
     
         18 . The article of  claim 10 , wherein the instructions when executed enable the processor to multicast a request to the plurality of remote systems coupled to a network that the task is available for processing.  
     
     
         19 . An apparatus, comprising: 
 an interface adapted to communicate with a plurality of remote systems; and    a control unit communicatively coupled to the interface, the control unit adapted to:    transmit a utility to the plurality of remote systems;    receive ranking values generated by the execution of the utility by the plurality of remote systems; and    determine one or more remote systems suitable to process a task based on the received ranking values.    
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the control unit is adapted to multicast the utility to the plurality of remote systems.  
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein the control unit is adapted to assign the task to at least one of the determined remote systems, to allow the task to be processed by the at least one determined remote systems, and to receive results from the processing of the task.  
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the control unit is adapted to select the remote system having the highest ranking value among the plurality of remote systems and wherein the control unit adapted to transmit the utility comprises the control unit adapted to transmit a copy of the utility to the plurality of remote systems.  
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the control unit is adapted to cause the selected remote system to process the task and receiving results from the processing of the task.  
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the control unit is adapted to: 
 receive, at a controller system, the utility from a client system;    transmit the utility from the controller system to the plurality of remote systems; and    provide the results from the processing of the task to the client system.    
     
     
         25 . A method, comprising: 
 receiving, at a remote system, a utility transmitted by a controller system;    determining a ranking value by executing the received utility, wherein the ranking value is representative of how qualified the remote system may be to at least assist with processing a task requiring completion; and    transmitting the ranking utility to the controller system.    
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising receiving at least a portion of the task to process.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , further comprising processing at least the portion of the task and providing one or more results associated the processing to the controller system.  
     
     
         28 . A distributed computing system, comprising: 
 a plurality of remote systems;    a controller system adapted to:    transmit a utility to the plurality of remote systems;    receive ranking values generated by the execution of the utility by the plurality of remote systems; and    determine one or more remote systems suitable to process a task based on the received ranking values.